Diaphragm-horn



M. R. nummsow.

DIAPHRAGM HORN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. I913.

PatentedNov. 4, 1919.

r H INVENTOR /fil 4 1 6 girxefi AL WITNESSES BY 6 la/m rrrolmr MILLER REESE HUTCHISON, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 LOVELL- MOCONNELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DIAPHRAGM-HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1919.

Original application filed May 11, 1911, Serial No. 626,491. Divided and this application filed September 16,

1913. Serial No. 790,045.

of considerable carrying power, and there-- fore excellently adapted for use on automobiles and other vehicles, boat/s, factories, and elsewhere. y

A very eifective form of signal for such purposes is a mechanically actuated diaphragm horn, such as disclosed for example in my Patents Nos, 923,048, 923,049 or 923,122, wherein the sound is produced by setting up rapid bodily vibration in a dia-" phragm by power-driven mechanical means,

My present invention is characterized by the employment of a flexible, endless actuator, provided with projections forming a suitable uneven actuating surface or face.

This endless actuator may be in the nature of a belt flexible throughout its length. It is preferably driven by power means, and preferably by an electric motor; and in the typical instance it passes around a drum on the armature or drive shaft and around an idler, and performs its work to actuate the diaphragm at a point between the drive and the idler. The endless actuator is driven frictioually so that it permits a degree of slip between the drive and the actuator. This is of advantage in that, if the actuator be sufficiently loose, it permits of a certain amount of cushioning of the blows or cam thrusts applied to the diaphragm or other part, and likewise guards against undue strain being put upon the diaphragm through interference, as by a cam projection intercepting the cooperating surface while the diaphragm is in full back-swing. The

actuating projections or cam teeth may be secured to or formed on the endless actuator in any desired manner. in the nature of true cams. The actuation of the diaphragm or other part by the projections is preferably positive, it being preferred to support the flexible actuator They may be opposite the region of engagement by a stationary rigid backing.

Having thus briefly described my invention I now proceed to a particular description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which shows a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of one form of the signaling device.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable resonator-projector, and 2 a diaphragm, it bein understood that the resonator is preferabTy soproportioned as to be synchronous with the natural or a prominent frequency of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is preferably held in a suitable case, consisting of a front section 3 and a rear section 4. The base of the resonator is secured to the front section in line with the sound-emitting opening 5 thereim Th dia- I phragm is preferably clamped in place at its margins by clamping portions 6, 7 of the case sections and cork washers or the like 8, 9, clamping bolts or screws 10 passing through registering openings in the parts.

The endless, flexible actuator is illustrated as cooperating directly with a wearpiece 12 fixed on the diaphragm, but it will be understood that this is shown as a pre ferred and illustrated arrangement, and that another part may cooperate with the ac tuator to bring about the vibration of the diaphragm. Moreover, while I prefer to use a diaphragm held around its margins and vibrating throughout its internal area, it should be understood that I am not limited in all the aspects of the invention to such form of Vibratory sounding element. The endless actuator 11 is shown as a flexible band, preferably of leather, though metal or other material may be used. It passes about and may be more or less tightly stretched between wheels or pulleys 13 and 14 suitably mounted in the case, 13 being the driving wheel and 14: an idler. The actuator and its rotatable supports may be arranged in a variety of ways with reference to the diaphragm. A suitable arrangement is shown, in which the wheels are located at opposite sides of the axis of the diaphragm and the working course of the actuator is approximately parallel to the diaphragm. The drive wheel 13 may be driven in any suitable manner, preferably by power means and preferably by a motor, the armature of which is indicated at 15. In the simplest construction the wheel 13 is mounted on the armature shaft 16. The actuating projections 17 are formed on or secured to .the actuator band in any suitable manner. Preferably, they are of metal, like the wear-piece 12 with which they are shown as cooperating, but these parts may be of other suitable material, The drawing shows the projections as true cams, preferably of low pitch on the advancing side and with a perpendicular drop on the rear side. Such projections effect gradual outward displacement of the diaphragm and permit free backward movement thereof when the crest of each tooth passes the anvil or wear-piece. The teeth should be of such length relative to the circumferences of the wheels 13 and let that the resulting stiffened regions of the band to which they are attached are not of sufiicient length to prevent the band maintaining a good grip on the wheels. Desirable results may be secured by a friction drive between the wheel 13 and the band, the slip permitted being more or less according to the nature of the surfaces and the tightness of the band. Such slip may have a useful function either in cushioning the blows or thrusts applied to the com plementary member by the traveling actuating projections, or in permittting yieldingto take up interference between the actuating projections and the diaphragm, or in enabling the resonator and diaphragm to hold the traveling actuator to synchronism, or in two or all of th'eseparticulars. lVhile the actuating projections are shown as set close together, it will be clear that they may be distributed with more or less space between. I prefer to cause the path of the teeth 17 normally to intersect the wear-piece, and to solidly support the working portion of the actuator by a stationary backing piece such as shown at 20, which piece may be secured to or formed on the case or other support in any suitable manner. Such a backing piece is especially desirable where the rotatable supports are spaced at such is distance that the courses of the actuator are to be readily displaced by engagement with the diaphragm pro ectlon. The extent of interception and consequently the amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm may be regulated by adjustment, of this backing piece forward or backward. Such adjustment is illustratively represented by the backing screw 21. It will be apparaent that this adjustable piece, or a similar member, may also be employed to adjust the tightness of the flexible actuator, thus regulating the degree of slip permitted.

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. (326,191, filed May 11th, 1911.

-I claim:

1. In an alarm or signaling device, a diaphragm, and. mechanical means for actuating the same including an endless, flexible actuator, a drive shaft, and slip connections between said shaft and said actuator whereby the speed of the latter may be governed by the diaphragm vibrations.

2. An alarm or signaling device comprising a diaphragm and mechanical means for agitating the same, including a looped actuator provided with camface actuating devices, a driver for causing the actuator to travel and slip connections between said driver and said actuator.

3. In. an alarm or signaling device, the

combination of a vibratory diaphragm, an

endless flexible actuator provided with actuating projections, and an electric motor having a drum frictionally engaging with and driving said actuator whereby the actuator may slip on said drum and be governed by the diaphragm vibrations.

4. In an alarm or signaling device, the combination of a vibratory diaphragm, an endless flexible actuator provided with actuating projections, an electric motor having a drum frictionally engaging with and driving said actuator whereby the actuator may slip on said drum and be governed by the diaphragm vibrations, and an adjustable backing member for limiting movement of said actuator away from said diaphragm.

Signed at West Orange in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey this 13th day of September A. D, 1913.

MILLER REESE HUTCHIS-ON. Witnesses:

ADoLPH F. GALL, JOSEPH A. BROPHY. 

